Ames Residents Chip in With Ideas for School Building Plans

There was no opposition to new schools in Ames at a Wednesday forum, but many of those who took part shared what they want in facilities and how they want it done.

The Ames school district's facilities committee — charged with vetting a long-range plan before a $55 million bond referendum is drafted to rebuild and renovate elementary schools — held its question and answer session at City Hall. About 25 people attended the session.

Concerned parents, property owners and former school board members said they want to ensure children had places to play during construction, buildings with safe access, community gym spaces and an improved municipal pool.

Currently the district shares ownership of a pool with the city. That pool is at the high school and its nearing the end of its expected lifespan.

The plan currently calls for replacing three elementary school buildings — , and — and renovating and remodeling and .

Some parents said they thought community gyms should be included in the renovations and including the replacement of the pool at the high school may make the bond project more acceptable to voters.

Marti Steelman said more people would be in favor of the issue if all voters realize how new buildings might benefit them.

“I think a bond issue would pass easier …. if they saw wow I could have an exercise program right here in my neighborhood,” she said.

Betsy Carter, who once worked at Meeker, said she also wants to ensure that the best materials were used to construct buildings because students would be spending a large amount of time inside them.

“They are breathing and they are in that so many hours,” Carter said. “That's a factor that sometimes we forget about.”

The location of Fellows came up briefly. Some have suggested building it on GW Carver, but the plan currently calls for rebuilding at the same location.

Mary Heindel, a concerned parent, wanted to know where Fellows Elementary students would have recess while a new school is being built in the current school's back yard.

“Where will they play?” Heindel asked.

Heindel said her children will attend the school for the next two years. She suggested coming with a rough drawing of the proposed building site.

“I really don't care where it is. I'm just trying to figure out what's best for the kids,” Heindel said.

The board's current plan states that both Meeker and Edwards would be replaced with newer, three-section schools. Meeker would be built on site and Edwards would be rebuilt at Miller Avenue. Fellows would be replaced with a four-section school on the same site.

A renovated Sawyer would become a three-section school, and a renovated Mitchell would become a two-section school. The full plan can be found here.

A possible bond referendum that would need voter approval in April would only concern the elementary schools for now.

The community facilities committee hopes to make recommendations to the school board Jan. 16. The board would formulate bond language and then a committee would be responsible for gathering 1,700 signatures for an April 3 bond referendum.